Changing of the Guard at TNS

After serving for 6 years as the Editor-in-Chief (EiC) of the IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science (TNS), Dr. Zane Bell decided to step down from that role.  We began a search for his replacement in October, 2024, starting with an announcement at the 2024 NSS/MIC meeting.  Applications for the position were solicited in a variety of venues, including through the NPSS web site, the NPSS Newsletter, monthly editorials in TNS, the TNS email blasts, and personal contacts.  Applications were open through January 31^st, 2025.

At that time, an evaluation and selection committee consisting of the chairs of the NPSS Technical Committees for Radiation Instrumentation, Radiation Effects, Particle Accelerator Science and Technology, and Computer Applications in Nuclear and Plasma Sciences, along with the Publications Chair, began its consideration of the applicants.   Information considered by the committee members included the biographies of the applicants, the complete CV and list of publications of the applicants, a description prepared by the applicant of how the applicant meets the requirements listed in the Call for Applications and their vision for the journal, and the performance history with TNS as reviewer, Associate Editor, and/or Senior Editor.

After due deliberation, the committee selected Prof. Gian-Franco Dalla Betta of the University of Trento as the best qualified candidate.  The recommendation was made on March 8, 2025 to the NPSS AdCom to approve his appointment as the new EiC for TNS; AdCom approved this appointment.

Prof. Dalla Betta has an excellent background for this position.  He received the M.S. degree in Electronics Engineering from the University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy, in 1992, and the Ph.D. degree in Microelectronics from the University of Trento, Trento, Italy, in 1997.  From 1997 to 2002, he was with ITC-irst, Trento, Italy, as a Researcher.  Since 2002, he has been with the University of Trento, Trento, Italy, where he is currently a Full Professor of Electronics.  Prof. Dalla Betta has been involved in the development of silicon radiation detectors and integrated optical sensors for more than 30 years.  On these and related topics he has authored or coauthored more than 500 papers published in international journals and conference proceedings.  He received the 2023 Emilio Gatti Radiation Instrumentation Technical Achievement Award from the Radiation Instrumentation Steering Committee of the IEEE Nuclear & Plasma Science Society for the original design of double-sided 3D silicon pixel detectors. 

In addition to the above, Prof. Dalla Betta has direct experience with editorial activities at TNS.  In 2008 he began serving as an Associate Editor for the journal.  In 2020, he took over the role of Senior Editor for Radiation Instrumentation in TNS.   Given that background, the transition period for passing off the EiC duties from Dr. Bell was quite short, with Prof. Dalla Betta assuming the full EiC role on March 10, 2025.

We want to sincerely thank Zane for his many years of outstanding service to our Society, to TNS, and to the nuclear science community.  He was instrumental in continuing to enhance the quality and reputation of TNS.  We are delighted to welcome Gian-Franco to the NPSS Publications team and believe that he will be able to build upon the stature of TNS and move it forward effectively into the future. 

Paul Dressendorfer, NPSS Publications Chair, can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].